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Codemasters (Creator of the Game Genie)

Edit on Github | Updated: 10th November 2024

History of Codemasters

Codemasters is a British video game developer and publisher known for its long history in the gaming industry.

It was founded by brothers Richard and David Darling in 1986.

The company initially began by developing and publishing games for home computers of the era, such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC.


Hardware

Game Genie

Game Genie was a series of video game enhancement devices developed by Codemasters and distributed by Galoob (later acquired by Hasbro). It was first released in 1990 for various gaming consoles, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Game Boy, and Sega Game Gear.

The Game Genie allowed players to input special codes, known as “cheat codes,” which modified the behavior of games. These codes could enable features like unlimited lives, infinite ammunition, invincibility, and other gameplay enhancements that were not normally available in the game. Players could enter these codes through a simple interface before starting their game, and the effects would take place during gameplay.

CD-ROM for the Nintendo Entertainment System

In issue 1 of the UK Magazine GamesX the following was printed: CD-ROM for the NES

Sadly this was just the company Camerica jumping the gun to announce a product that hadn’t even began development (no prototype or even designs) as confirmed by David Darling himself 1.


Software (Games)

Here is a list of the games codemasters are most famous for:

  • Micro Machines - NES, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, Game Boy, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
  • Colin McRae Rally - PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo DS, iOS, Android
  • TOCA Touring Car (later became Race Driver series) - PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
  • Operation Flashpoint - Microsoft Windows, Xbox, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360
  • Dizzy - Various home computer platforms including ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, NES
  • DiRT - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux
  • F1 - PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, macOS
  • GRID - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia
  • Overlord - Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
  • Bodycount - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

References